THE SAD SCAMMING OF A LA MESA WIDOW

The U-T story by reporter Roxana Popescu about the 79-year-old La Mesa widow who lost $125,000 in scams in which she was told she won vast sums in a sweepstakes – but could only cash in if she forwarded “fees” to facilitate her payment – could scarcely be sadder. It noted that thieves like to target the frail elderly, especially those suffering from incipient Alzheimer’s.

If something sounds too good to be true, always assume that it is too good to be true. But a second lesson here is that people should worry about their aging relatives. Some seniors are vulnerable to being preyed upon, and they need their families’ help.